Thomas J. Fiscus was a
Major General
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
in the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
who served as
Judge Advocate General of the Air Force, the highest-ranking officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. In 2004, Fiscus was punished for conduct unbecoming an officer and several other offenses after an investigation found that he engaged in improper relationships with more than a dozen women.
Fiscus received a formal reprimand and forfeitures of pay under Article 15 of the
Uniform Code of Military Justice
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 801–946 is the foundation of military law in the United States. It was established by the United States Congress in accordance with the authority given by the United States Constitution ...
for conduct unbecoming,
fraternization
Fraternization (from Latin ''frater'', brother) is "to become brothers" by conducting social relations with people who are actually unrelated and/or of a different class (especially those with whom one works) as if they were siblings, family membe ...
, obstruction of justice and violating a lawful general regulation.
Fiscus was the Air Force's judge advocate general from February 2002 until he asked to be relieved in September 2004 when the allegations against him came under investigation. As the Air Force's top lawyer, he oversaw the work of 3,200 employees, including more than 1,300 Air Force judge advocates.
Fiscus was one of the military lawyers who argued against the harsh interrogation techniques approved by Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld (July 9, 1932 – June 29, 2021) was an American politician, government official and businessman who served as Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under president Gerald Ford, and again from 2001 to 2006 under Preside ...
in December 2002 for detainees at
Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
.
References
Ricks, Thomas E. and Branigin, William, "Air Force Reprimands Its Former Top Lawyer: Improper Relationships With Women Cited", The Washington Post, December 22, 2004
External links
*http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64246-2005Jan10.html
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070917024330/http://www.af.mil/library/posture/fiscusroi.pdf Report of the Inspector General on MG Fiscus' misconduct
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fiscus, Thomas J.
American lawyers
United States Air Force generals
Judge Advocates General of the United States Air Force
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people